第 25 节
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管他三七二十一 更新:2021-04-30 16:21 字数:9319
ideas of all。 We; finally; lightened the box by removing two thirds
of its contents; when we were enabled; with some trouble; to raise it
from the hole。 The articles taken out were deposited among the
brambles; and the dog left to guard them; with strict orders from
Jupiter neither; upon any pretence; to stir from the spot; nor to
open his mouth until our return。 We then hurriedly made for home with
the chest; reaching the hut in safety; but after excessive toil; at
one o'clock in the morning。 Worn out as we were; it was not in human
nature to do more immediately。 We rested until two; and had supper;
starting for the hills immediately afterwards; armed with three stout
sacks; which; by good luck; were upon the premises。 A little before
four we arrived at the pit; divided the remainder of the booty; as
equally as might be; among us; and; leaving the holes unfilled; again
set out for the hut; at which; for the second time; we deposited our
golden burthens; just as the first faint streaks of the dawn gleamed
from over the tree…tops in the East。
We were now thoroughly broken down; but the intense excitement of
the time denied us repose。 After an unquiet slumber of some three or
four hours' duration; we arose; as if by preconcert; to make
examination of our treasure。
The chest had been full to the brim; and we spent the whole day;
and the greater part of the next night; in a scrutiny of its
contents。 There had been nothing like order or arrangement。 Every
thing had been heaped in promiscuously。 Having assorted all with
care; we found ourselves possessed of even vaster wealth than we had
at first supposed。 In coin there was rather more than four hundred
and fifty thousand dollars … estimating the value of the pieces; as
accurately as we could; by the tables of the period。 There was not a
particle of silver。 All was gold of antique date and of great variety
… French; Spanish; and German money; with a few English guineas; and
some counters; of which we had never seen specimens before。 There
were several very large and heavy coins; so worn that we could make
nothing of their inscriptions。 There was no American money。 The value
of the jewels we found more difficulty in estimating。 There were
diamonds … some of them exceedingly large and fine … a hundred and
ten in all; and not one of them small; eighteen rubies of remarkable
brilliancy; … three hundred and ten emeralds; all very beautiful; and
twenty…one sapphires; with an opal。 These stones had all been broken
from their settings and thrown loose in the chest。 The settings
themselves; which we picked out from among the other gold; appeared
to have been beaten up with hammers; as if to prevent identification。
Besides all this; there was a vast quantity of solid gold ornaments;
… nearly two hundred massive finger and earrings; … rich chains …
thirty of these; if I remember; … eighty…three very large and heavy
crucifixes; … five gold censers of great value; … a prodigious golden
punch bowl; ornamented with richly chased vine…leaves and
Bacchanalian figures; with two sword…handles exquisitely embossed;
and many other smaller articles which I cannot recollect。 The weight
of these valuables exceeded three hundred and fifty pounds
avoirdupois; and in this estimate I have not included one hundred and
ninety…seven superb gold watches; three of the number being worth
each five hundred dollars; if one。 Many of them were very old; and as
time keepers valueless; the works having suffered; more or less; from
corrosion … but all were richly jewelled and in cases of great worth。
We estimated the entire contents of the chest; that night; at a
million and a half of dollars; and upon the subsequent disposal of
the trinkets and jewels (a few being retained for our own
use); it was found that we had greatly undervalued the treasure。
When; at length; we had concluded our examination; and the intense
excitement of the time had; in some measure; subsided; Legrand; who
saw that I was dying with impatience for a solution of this most
extraordinary riddle; entered into a full detail of all the
circumstances connected with it。
〃You remember;〃 said he; 〃the night when I handed you the rough
sketch I had made of the scarab鎢s。 You recollect also; that I became
quite vexed at you for insisting that my drawing resembled a
death's…head。 When you first made this assertion I thought you were
jesting; but afterwards I called to mind the peculiar spots on the
back of the insect; and admitted to myself that your remark had some
little foundation in fact。 Still; the sneer at my graphic powers
irritated me … for I am considered a good artist … and; therefore;
when you handed me the scrap of parchment; I was about to crumple it
up and throw it angrily into the fire。〃
〃The scrap of paper; you mean;〃 said I。
〃No; it had much of the appearance of paper; and at first I
supposed it to be such; but when I came to draw upon it; I discovered
it; at once; to be a piece of very thin parchment。 It was quite
dirty; you remember。 Well; as I was in the very act of crumpling it
up; my glance fell upon the sketch at which you had been looking; and
you may imagine my astonishment when I perceived; in fact; the figure
of a death's…head just where; it seemed to me; I had made the drawing
of the beetle。 For a moment I was too much amazed to think with
accuracy。 I knew that my design was very different in detail from
this … although there was a certain similarity in general outline。
Presently I took a candle; and seating myself at the other end of the
room; proceeded to scrutinize the parchment more closely。 Upon
turning it over; I saw my own sketch upon the reverse; just as I had
made it。 My first idea; now; was mere surprise at the really
remarkable similarity of outline … at the singular coincidence
involved in the fact; that unknown to me; there should have been a
skull upon the other side of the parchment; immediately beneath my
figure of the scarab鎢s; and that this skull; not only in outline;
but in size; should so closely resemble my drawing。 I say
the singularity of this coincidence absolutely stupified me for a
time。 This is the usual effect of such coincidences。 The mind
struggles to establish a connexion … a sequence of cause and effect …
and; being unable to do so; suffers a species of temporary paralysis。
But; when I recovered from this stupor; there dawned upon me
gradually a conviction which startled me even far more than the
coincidence。 I began distinctly; positively; to remember that there
had been no drawing upon the parchment when I made my sketch of the
scarab鎢s。 I became perfectly certain of this; for I recollected
turning up first one side and then the other; in search of the
cleanest spot。 Had the skull been then there; of course I could not
have failed to notice it。 Here was indeed a mystery which I felt it
impossible to explain; but; even at that early moment; there seemed
to glimmer; faintly; within the most remote and secret chambers of my
intellect; a glow…worm…like conception of that truth which last
night's adventure brought to so magnificent a demonstration。 I arose
at once; and putting the parchment securely away; dismissed all
farther reflection until I should be alone。
〃When you had gone; and when Jupiter was fast asleep; I betook
myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair。 In the first
place I considered the manner in which the parchment had come into my
possession。 The spot where we discovered the scarabaeus was on the
coast of the main land; about a mile eastward of the island; and but
a short distance above high water mark。 Upon my taking hold of it; it
gave me a sharp bite; which caused me to let it drop。 Jupiter; with
his accustomed caution; before seizing the insect; which had flown
towards him; looked about him for a leaf; or something of that
nature; by which to take hold of it。 It was at this moment that his
eyes; and mine also; fell upon the scrap of parchment; which I then
supposed to be paper。 It was lying half buried in the sand; a corner
sticking up。 Near the spot where we found it; I observed the remnants
of the hull of what appeared to have been a ship's long boat。 The
wreck seemed to have been there for a very great while; for the
resemblance to boat timbers could scarcely be traced。
〃Well; Jupiter picked up the parchment; wrapped the beetle in it;
and gave it to me。 Soon afterwards we turned to go home; and on the
way met Lieutenant G…。 I showed him the insect; and he begged me to
let him take it to the fort。 Upon my consenting; he thrust it
forthwith into his waistcoat pocket; without the parchment in which
it had been wrapped; and which I had continued to hold in my hand
during his inspection。 Perhaps he dreaded my changing my mind; and
thought it best to make sure of the prize at once … you know how
enthusiastic he is on all subjects connected with Natural History。 At
the same time; without being conscious of it; I must have deposited
the parchment in my own pocket。
〃You remem